Switch



Dec. 30, 193.0. A. H. wElss 1,787,058

IGNITION AND LIGHTING- swITcH original Filed May 24,- -1920 ffmzigdfiI/Z/@zI-S Patented Dec. 30, 1930 UNITED .f2-

Artnr orric i ALFRED I-I. WEISS, F WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOE :TO KELIZOGG` SWITCHBOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CRPORATION OF ILLINOIS IGNITION AND LIGHTING SWITCH Original application led May 24, 1920, Serial No. 383,675, now Patent No. 1,533,411, dated December 1,

1925. Divided. and this application mea January 27, 1922. serai No. 532,142.

in general and has to do more particularly f with so-called combination lighting and ignition switches, such as are used for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits of an automobile or the like. An object of my invention is to produce a device of the above character which contains novel features of construction and combination of partsall of which produce a simple, efficient and economical switch structure.

A feature of my invention is an improved construction of the rotor element, which rotor element is operatively associated with contact springs to establish the desired different circuit combinations, asthe rotor element is actuated.

The above feature, as well as others, consists of novel details of construction and conibination of parte hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the ensuing specification and appended claims.

This application is a divisional application of my application S. N. 383,675, filed May 24,

1920 and issued as Letters Patent No. 1,563,-

411, on December 1, 1925.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters, in the several views, denote Vlike par-ts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an interior face view of a switch structure embodying the rotor element of my a switch structure which comprises two units which consists preferably of a standard tuinj` bler cylinder loch T and which controls ay sliding locking plate LP cooperates with the rotor elements as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring now more in detail to my invention as illustrated, it comprises, preferably, a mounting plate 2 made of any suitable insulating material, such as balrelite, and having a stud 4 fastened to it in any suitable manner, as by means of the nut 5, which nut 5 has screw-threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the stud 4, which entends beyond the rear face of the plate 2. The plate 2 is provided with peripheral ridge 22, extending upwardly from the plate proper and is also provided with a flange upon which the cover-cap of the device rest-s.

The unit L and the unit M are each provided with a rotor element, and as both are similar in construction, a description of one of them will Vsuii'ice. The rotor element associated with the unit L comprises a supporting stud 32, a holding disc 33 for holding the unit L in its dierent positions, as will be more fully hereinafter described, a washer 34, a retaining member 35, a sleeve 36 of suitable insulating material, insulation washers 37, 38 and 39, cams 40 and 41 of suitable insulating material, a cam 42 of suitable conducting material, and a washer 43, which members are all supported upon the stud 32. The disc 33 is provided with an orifice of a size to permit its being slipped over the body portion 44 of the stud 32 and when in place rests against the flanged portion 45 of the stud `32. The insulating sleeve 36 is provided with an orifice of a size to per mit its being slipped over the body portion 44 of the stud 32, the said sleeve when in place rests against the member 33. The washer 34 is providedwith an orifice of a size to permit its being slipped over the insulating sleeve 36, and theretaining inembei` is also provided with an orifice of a size to permit it being slipped over the insulating sleeve 36. Washers 37 and 38, cams and 41 and cam 42 are also provided with orices to permit'thein being slipped over the sleeve 36. Washer 37 is placed between the retaining member 35 and insulation cam 40, and the metal cam 42 when in place rests between the said insulating cams 40 and 41 with the insulating washer 38 resting between the said metal cam 42 and the cam 40. The washer 43 and insulating washer 39 are provided with oriices of a size to permit them being slipped over the body portion 44 of the stud 32, the said body portion 44 extends slightly beyond the face of the washer 43 for purposes as will presently be described. To hold the members 35, 37, 38,

39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 in xed relation with eachv other and the stud 32, l provide the retaining member with a lug 46 which is bent at right angles to the plane of the member proper, the said lug 46 extending through openings 47 in the washer 37 and cam 40, itsv end resting against the insulating washer 38 to insulate the member 35 from the cam 42. A lug 48 integrally formed with the retaining member 35 and diametrically opposite the lug 46 is bent at right angles to the plane of the retaining member proper, the said angular portion 49 resting iny a notch 50 cut in the periphery of the holding member 33. The end 51 of the lug 48 is bent parallel to the plane of the member proper and rests in a notch 52 cut in the flanged portionV 45 of the stud 32.

The metal cam member 42 is provided with pins 53 and 54 diametrically opposite and suitably secured thereto, which are adapted JCocooperate with the insulating ca1ns40 and 41 so as to hold the cams 40, 41 and'42 in Xed relation with each other. VThe pins 53 and 54 protrude beyond both faces of the cam member 42, and their ends 53 and 54 extend into suitable oriiices 55 and 56 in th'e cam member 41, the said ends of the pins abutting ,against the insulating washer 39 to insulate the said pins Jfrom the washer 43. The other protruding ends 532 and 542 of ins y53 and 54 extend through suitable origces 57 and 58 in the cam member 49. the ends of the said pins 53 and 54 abutting against the insulating washer 37 to insulate them from the retaining member 35. lVhen the members 33, 34, 35, etc.; are in place upon the stud 32, the body portion 44 of the stud 32 protrudes beyond the face of washer 43 and this extended portion is upset or spun over, securing the said members upon the said stud 32 against displacement, vand the lugs 46 and 48 of the retaining member 35 in association with the pins 53 and 54 of the cam member 42 prevent the said members 33, 34, 35, etc., from lrotating on the stud 32 and hold them in liXed relation with each other. The stud 32 is provided with a suitable opening for tting over the end of the stud 4 to bring the cams 40, 41 and 42 into operative relation with certain of the contact springs secured to theplate 2, and is of a size to permit the rotation of the switch unit L on the Vwill beV in contactual engagement with the insulation cams 40 and 41 to open certain lcircuits,` while 'the other of said contact springs will have contactual engagement with the 'metal cam 42to'close certain circuits controlled Vby the switch unit L.

The holding member 33 of the unit L is in the form of a notched or toothed disc or star wheel, and to cooperate with the discs Vor star wheels 33 and 33 to yieldingly hold the units L and M, respectively, in any of their operated positions, l provide a holding device H which comprises a centrally pivoted member 80, which carries rotatable rollers 81 and 82 inits bifurcated ends, said rollers 81 and 82 operating in connection with their corresponding discs or wheels 33 and 33 of the unit M and the unit L. The member 8O is pivotally supported at its center by a stud 83, which is suitably fastened to the mounting plate 2 by means of a nut 84, which nut 84 has screw-threaded engagement with-the threaded portion of the stud 83. A. spring 85v for yieldingly holding member H against the discs or wheels 33 Vand 33 ot' the switch units L and M, is provided, and a clamping bracket 86 secured to the mounting plate 2 by means o1 a screw 87 is provided with an anguiar extension which rests in a notch 89 cut in the enr` 90 of the spring 85 to secure the spring 85 to the mounting plate 2 against displacement. The angular extension 88 of the bracket 86 rests in a notch 91 in the pei ripheral ridge 22 to prevent the said bracket from turning. Then one oit' the switch mem- Y bers is operated, the teeth of its disc are rotated against its associate roller, due to the action of the spring 85, and as the disc or star wheel'advances the roller acts upon the next notch so as to give a snap action to the switch member and at the same time hold the actuating members of thc switch in place.

fr locking arrangement is provided whereby the units L and M may be locked Yin their different positions. I pr: ride a pin-tumbler ylinder loclrT cooperating with a sliding 1e,

ably integrally formed therewith, the said lugs 100 resting in a notch 102 cut in the ring portion 22 oi the mounting plate 2, which ring portion 22 is 'formed by the inner circumferential. edge of the cup-shaped portion ofthe plate 2 and the outer circumferential edge ot the plate 2. The lock barrel 97 iesting in the pocket 99, which forms a seat for the said barrel 97, in conjunction with lugs 100, which rest in the notch 102, centers said lock and prevents rotation of the same in the pocket 99 when the key-103 of the lock is turned. rIhe sliding locking plate LP, which is provided for locking the units L and M so that they cannot be operated, consists of a plate 104 provided with elongated slots 105 and 106, through which the studs 3 and 4 extend. The plate 104 is also provided with a lJ-shaped notch 107 of a size to permit it to span the lock barrel 97 which rests in the pocket 99 in the mounting plate 2. The slots 105 and 106 and the U-shaped notch 107 in association with the studs 3 and 4 and the key barrel 97 form guiding means for the i plate 104 when the said plate is moved to lock or unlock the switch units L and M, as the case may be. To permit movement ot' the plate 104 when the key 103 is rotated to lock or unlock the switch units L and M, I

provide a pin 108 which is secured to the rearwardly extending portion '98 ot' the key barrel 97, the said pin 108 cooperating with a pin 109, which is secured to the sliding plate 104 in the desired manner.' The plate 104 is also provided with angular extensions 110 and 110', which extensions are preterably integrally Vtermed with the said plate 104, the said extensions 110 and 110 cooper'- ating with the discs 33 and33 of the switching units M and L.

I have perferably arranged the unit M so that it can only be iocked in its normal or inoperative position, and I, therefore, provide a single slot 332 in the disc or wheel 33', while the disc or wheel 33 oic the unit L is provided with three slots 333, 331` and 335, whereby the unit L may be locked in its normal or two of its three operative positions. No slot is provided foi-'the second operative position of the switch unit L, so that when the unit L is in its second position and an attempt is made to lock the units after the unit M is restored to its inoperative position, the key 103 can only be turned part way and the f operator is at once notiiied that the switch lever must be turned back to one of its other operative or normal positions to enable him to lock the switch. The discs 33 and 33 ot `the units L and `M are provided with lugs 111 and 112, 113 and 114 to limit the movements of the switch units L and M in their normal and farthest advanced positions. The lugs 111 and 113 of the disks or wheels 33 and 33, respectively, limit the movement of the switch units L and M in their normal position by engaging the `forward ends of the angular extensions 110 and 110 of the sliding locking plate 104, and the lugs 112 and 114 of the switch units L and` M are limited in their farthest advanced positions by the engagement of the said lugs 112 and 114 withthe forward ends of the angular extensions 110 and 110 of the sliding locking plate 104.

In Fig. 1 I show the locking mechanism operated to lock the switching units L and M against movement, but also showing the mechanism at normal. To'lock the switch units L and M, the key 103 of the lock T is inserted and turned to the right until'the pin 108 in the key barrel 97 engages the pin 109 in the plate 104. Continued rotation of the key 103 of the lock T moves the plate 104 in an upward direction into the position shown in Fig. 1. The extensions 110 and'110 enter the slots 332 and 333 of the switching units M and L, respectively, preventing the movement of said units. To unlock the switch units L and M, the key is turned tothe left until the pin 108 engages pin 109 to move the plate 104 in a downward direction, and this downward movement of the sliding locking plate 104 withdraws the extensions 110 and 110 from the slots 332 and 333. l f

The locking plate 104 is held in its locked position against the action of the pin 108 in the end of the key 4barrel 97. As the barrel barrel against rotation as is well understood.'

The pin 108 in the barrel 97 being in engagement with pin 109 of the lock plate 104 holds the plate 104 in its locked position against the action of gravity as is rreadily apparent from the above description. A flat spring 116 having its one end secured between the member 80 and the mounting plate 2 by means ot the stud 83; and its free end engaging the sliding locking plate 104 produces a trictional action on the plate 104 as it is moved to its locked or unlocked position. A cover or casing 117 is provided for enclosing the mechanism, and is provided with. suitable openings to permit the passage of the studs 3 and 4. Handles are secured to the studs 3 and 4 in any suitable mann-er, the said handles being grasped by the operator to move the switching units L and M to their different operative positions. The cover 117 is also i provided with a suitable 'opening 121 of a size to permit the passage of the forward end or head 122 of the key barrel 97, this'opening 121 also forming a bearingv for the head 122 of the key barrel 97 when it is rotated by the key.

While I have described a certain form of invention, and While Ihave described it in( connection with a particular type of switch it is to be understood that changes and modifications Will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and I, therefore,` do not Wish to be limited to the exact structure, as shown, but aim to cover all such changes and modications as come Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A rotor device of the character described including a mounting plate, a non-rotatable supporting member secured to said mounting` plate, a supporting stud rotatably carried by said non-rotatable supporting member, a star Wheel carried by said stud, a circuit closer carried by said stud, a pair of insulating cams located oneach side of said circuit closer, means for preventing rotation of said cams and circuit closer relative to each other, a member securing said star Wheel and said cir'- cuit closer to said stud to prevent said star Wheel and circuit closer from rotating rela tive to said stud, means cooperating with said star Wheel for yieldingly holding said rotor in position, and locking means adapted to engage said star Wheel to prevent any rotation of said rot-or.

2. A rotor device of the character described including a mounting plate, a non-rotatable supporting member secured thereto, a rotary shaft carried by said non-rotatable supporting member, a star Wheel carried by said shaft, a circuit controller including cams of conducting material and cams of insulating material carried by said shaft, a member for preventing rotation of said circuit controller relative to said cams, a second member for preventing relative rotation of said cams and star Wheel and securing the same to said rotary shaft, means cooperating with said star Wheel for yieldingly holding said rotor in position, and locking means adapted to engage said star Wheel to prevent any rotation of said rotor.

3. A rotor device of the character described including a rotary shaft, a contact controller carried thereby including a cam of conducting material and a pair of cams of insulating material, a member securing said cams together, a second member securing the said cams to said rotary shaft, and means for rotatably supporting said rotor element.

4. A rotor device of the character described including a shaft, a pair of cams of insulating material and one of conducting material adapted to be fittedonto said shaft,

means for holding said cam on said shaft, a member for preventing rotation between said cams of insulating material and said cam of conducting material, asecond member for preventing rotation of one of said cams relativeto said shaft, a stud for rotatably supporting said rotor and means forwyieldingly holding said rotor in position.

5. A rotor device of the character described including a rotary shaft, a member provided with serrations carried by said shaft, a pair of cams of insulating material, anda cam of conducting material carried by said shaft, means for preventing rotation of the cams of insulating material relative to the cam of conducting material, means for preventing rotation of said cams and said member provided with serrations relative to said shaft, and means cooperating with said serrated member for yieldingly holding said rotor in position.

G. A rotor device of the character described including a rotary shaft, a member provided With serrations carried by said shaft, a pair of cams of insulating material, and a cam of conducting material carried by said shaft, means for preventing rotation of the cams of insulating material relative to the cam of conducting material, means for preventing rotation of said cams and said member provided with serrations relative to said shaft, means for insulating said cam of conducting material from said rotary shaft, and means cooperating with said serrated member for yieldingly holding. said rotor in position.

7. A rotor device of the character described including a rotary shaft, a member provided With serrations carried by saidI shaft, a pair of cams of insulating material, and a cam of conducting material carried by said shaft, means for preventing rotation of the cams of insulatingl material relative tothe cam of conducting. material, means for preventing rotation of said cams and member provided with serrations relative to said shaft, means for insulating said cam of conducting material from said rotary shaft, means for insulating said cam of conducting material from said device provided with serrations, and spring controlled means cooperating with said serrated member for yieldingly holding said rotor in position.

8. A` rotor device ofl the character described including a rotary shaft, a member provided with serrations carried by said shaft, a pair of cams of insulating material, and a cam of conducting material carried by said shaft, means for preventing rotation of the cam of insulating material relative to the cam of conducting material, means for preventing rotation of said cams and said member provided With serrations relative to said shaft, means for insulating said last member from said cam of conducting material, and spring controlled means cooperating With said serrated member for yieldingly holding said rotor in position` 9. A rotor device of the character described including a rotary shaft, a device provided With serrations carried by said shaft,

lil)

a pair of cams of insulating material and a cam of conducting material carried by said shaft, means for preventing rotation of the cams of insulating material relative to the cam of conducting material, means for preventing rotation of said cams and said member provided with serrations relative to said shaft, means for insulating said cam of conducting material from said rotary shaft and lo said device provided with serrations, and spring controlled means cooperating with said serrated member for yieldingly holding said rotor in position. Signed by me at Chicago, in the county of 1;, Cook and State of Illinois, this 20th day of January, 1922.

ALFRED H. WEISS. 

